“Since I am a dog, beware my fangs”: beyond a ‘rational violence’ framework in the Sierra Leonean war

Keen, David
(2002)
“Since I am a dog, beware my fangs”: beyond a ‘rational violence’ framework in the Sierra Leonean war.
Crisis States Research Centre working papers series 1,
14.
Crisis States Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

Abstract

In his paper, David Keen goes beyond the confines of a 'rational violence' framework and proposes a model that helps to explain the occurrence of widespread violence against civilians during a civil war. In assessing violence induced by military soldiers and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Sierra Leone, Keen's three-stage model suggests that violence may be a product of human emotions, such as shame, anger and fear. The emotions and views of combatants need to be taken seriously if abuses are to be minimised.